I get fairly frequent questions about industry training and certification options. Here's an announcement of a new one from CompTIA that I just received.

CompTIA Convergence+™ Certification Beta Exam Available Today
Newest certification addresses skills in demand in growing market for convergence solutions

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., October 12, 2006 – The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the leading provider of vendor-neutral certifications for information technology (IT) workers around the world, announced today the availability of a beta version of its newest certification, CompTIA Convergence+™.

CompTIA Convergence+ is a credential that validates an IT professional’s knowledge and skill to perform analysis, implementation and management of data, voice and multimedia convergence applications. The certification covers areas such as telephony, network engineering, applications, hardware, architecture, management, and security.

Research by CompTIA and other industry sources indicates that organizations of all sizes and across numerous industries are aggressively implementing or investigating deployment of voice-over-IP and other convergence technologies. For example, a recent CompTIA survey of more than 350 small and medium-sized businesses found that two-thirds of those surveyed recognize the business value of converged communications solutions. Approximately one-third of these organizations intend to invest in phone system upgrades over the next year.

“The migration to converged networks eliminates the boundaries that existed previously between data, voice and multimedia applications,” said Neill Hopkins, vice president, skills development, CompTIA. “Similarly, IT professionals must expand their skills beyond data-only or voice-only capabilities and equip themselves with a multiplicity of skills to support and maintain these new methods of communicating. CompTIA Convergence+ certification is a credential developed by the industry to establish a workforce capable of helping customers maximize the benefits and opportunities presented by convergence.”

CompTIA Convergence+ is being developed with the assistance of several leading organizations in the convergence market.

The new CompTIA Convergence+ beta exam (CT1-001) is intended for individuals with 18-24 months of experience in data networking, voice-over-IP and other related convergence technologies. Individuals who pass the beta exam will be certified as a CompTIA Convergence+ professional.

The beta test is used to ensure that the final certification exam is fair and reliable. Candidates who take the beta exam are helping CompTIA to establish the appropriate requirements for the convergence certification. After a targeted number of candidates have taken the exam, the results are analyzed, the best questions are identified and a passing exam score is established. The permanent CompTIA Convergence+ certification exam is then launched.

The CompTIA Convergence+ beta exam is available worldwide in English. The exam consists of 110 multiple choice questions. Individuals will have two hours to complete the test. Candidates who take the beta exam will be notified by mail of their test results approximately 4-6 weeks after the beta exam period closes. There is a $75 fee for the beta exam.

The CompTIA Convergence+ beta exam is available through all Thomson Prometric and Pearson VUE testing centers around the world. To register for an exam, visit www.comptia.org/registerforexam. Objectives for the CompTIA Convergence+ beta exam are available at http://certification.comptia.org/resources/objectives.aspx.

About CompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) represents the business interests of the information technology (IT) industry. For 24 years CompTIA has provided research, networking and partnering opportunities to its 20,000 member organizations in more than 100 countries worldwide. CompTIA initiatives extend to areas such as convergence technologies, electronic commerce, information security, IT services, public policy, skills development, and software. CompTIA helps organization maximize the benefits they receive from their investments in technology; and assists IT workers to obtain the skills they need for productive careers in technology. For more information, please visit: www.comptia.org.